The association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and self-injurious behaviours (SIB)

Patrycja Marcinkowska

ABSTRACT: Self injurious behaviours (SIB) is an area of concern in individuals on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disabilities. Those behaviours include head banging, skin picking, self-biting and eye pressing, to name a few. As defined by Minshawi and colleagues (Minshawi et.al, 2014), SIB are topographical responses which not only interfere with learning and everyday social interactions but they also pose a great danger to an individual’s mental and physical well-being. This case study presents a non-vocal boy, aged 8, whose self injurious behaviours are closely related to gastrointestinal difficulties.